World War II serves as the compelling backdrop to this bittersweet story of love and longing. Young Russian lovers Veronica and Boris are torn apart by the need for Boris to enlist in the Soviet army after Germany unexpectedly invades. Their desire to reunite is thwarted at every turn, leading finally to heartbreaking tragedy.

The Cranes Are Flying is a marvel of technical sophistication, boasting arguably the most advanced cinematography of its day, surpassing even the achievements of the American cinema. The film’s long, complicated tracking shots would make Orson Welles blush. The camera glides with the fluid grace of a ballerina, moving effortlessly from ground-level close-up to soaring crane shot in the blink of an eye.

Mikhail Kalatozov’s The Cranes are Flying was a sensation upon its release in 1957. It won the coveted Palme d’Or at the prestigious Cannes Film Festival, the most highly regarded film award in the world, and remains one of the high points of Soviet cinema.